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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in California (With Aid)

72 Ranked Colleges
5,887 Degrees Awarded
$3,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 313,362 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 18,266 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $87,508 and $30,286 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 5,887 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 72 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in nursing. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality nursing programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in California (With Aid)

#1

Fresno City College

Fresno, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fresno City College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 211 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno City College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Fresno City College is $2,622 for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Fresno City College

#2

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of the Sequoias. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. College of the Sequoias is a fairly large school located in Visalia, California that handed out 98 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

College of the Sequoias also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend College of the Sequoias is $1,116 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at College of the Sequoias

#3

College of San Mateo

San Mateo, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of San Mateo. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Mateo, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 48 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSM, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $1,239 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend College of San Mateo.

Full College of San Mateo Nursing Report

#4

Ventura College

Ventura, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ventura College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. Ventura College is a fairly large public school situated in Ventura, California. It awarded 81 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ventura College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $1,514 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend Ventura College.

Read more about Nursing at Ventura College

#5

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cerritos College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree nursing students with aid list, Cerritos College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cerritos College is $4,022 for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

Full Cerritos College Nursing Report

#6

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, California

College of the Canyons came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. College of the Canyons is a public institution located in Santa Clarita, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 106 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

College of the Canyons did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Canyons is $4,088 for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

Full College of the Canyons Nursing Report

#7

Long Beach City College

Long Beach, California

Long Beach City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Long Beach City College is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 86 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Long Beach City College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Long Beach City College is $3,066 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Long Beach City College

#8

Yuba College

Marysville, California

Yuba College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Marysville, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 55 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Yuba College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Yuba College is $3,555 for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

Full Yuba College Nursing Report

#9

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, California

Pasadena City College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 85 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Pasadena City College is $2,920 for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Pasadena City College

#10

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California

Santa Ana College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Santa Ana, California, and it awarded 96 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

SAC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,801 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend SAC.

Read more about Nursing at Santa Ana College

#11

Moorpark College

Moorpark, California

Moorpark College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Moorpark, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 71 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Moorpark College is $1,473 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Moorpark College

#12

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California

Golden West College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Huntington Beach, California, and it awarded 85 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Golden West College is $2,862 for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

Full Golden West College Nursing Report

#13

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, California

With a ranking of #13, Sacramento City College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sacramento City is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sacramento City, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Sacramento City College is $4,835 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Sacramento City College Nursing Report

#14

Riverside City College

Riverside, California

Riverside City College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Riverside City College is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 177 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree nursing students with aid list, Riverside City College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Riverside City College is $4,620 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Riverside City College Nursing Report

#15

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California

Mt. San Antonio College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Mt. SAC is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 53 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Mt. San Antonio College is $1,729 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Mt. San Antonio College Nursing Report

#16

Cypress College

Cypress, California

Cypress College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cypress College is a public institution located in Cypress, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 86 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree nursing students with aid list, Cypress College has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cypress College is $3,489 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Cypress College

#17

Citrus College

Glendora, California

Citrus College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Citrus College is located in Glendora, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Citrus College is $2,751 for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Citrus College

#18

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California

Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. SRJC is a fairly large school located in Santa Rosa, California that handed out 111 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRJC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SRJC is $5,782 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at SRJC

#19

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Bakersfield College is a large public school situated in Bakersfield, California. It awarded 122 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Bakersfield College is $4,720 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Bakersfield College

#20

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California

Rio Hondo College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Rio Hondo College is a fairly large public school situated in Whittier, California. It awarded 77 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend RHCCD is $5,487 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Rio Hondo College Nursing Report

#21

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, California

Saddleback College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school situated in Mission Viejo, California. It awarded 91 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Saddleback College is $4,246 for california associate degree nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Saddleback College

#22

Imperial Valley College

Imperial, California

Imperial Valley College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. IVC is a public institution located in Imperial, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Imperial Valley College is $1,111 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full IVC Nursing Report

#23

City College of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

City College of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. City College of San Francisco is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 85 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,267 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend City College of San Francisco.

Read full report on Nursing at City College of San Francisco

#24

Butte College

Oroville, California

Butte College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Butte College is a medium-sized school located in Oroville, California that handed out 117 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Butte College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Butte College is $5,070 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Butte College Nursing Report

#25

American River College

Sacramento, California

American River College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 76 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend American River is $4,816 for California Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full American River College Nursing Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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